Denver Truck Crash Attorneys

Strong Advocates for Victims of Trucker Negligence

Big rigs are dangerous. From their longer braking time and stopping distance to their 80,000-pound frames, if you get into an "accident" with one of these vehicles, you might not be able to walk away.

Getting fair compensation after a truck wreck is nothing like getting compensation after a car collision. Trucking companies are often large corporations with big insurance policies to compensate you. In many newer trucks, there is an automatic alert that goes out to the truck’s insurer in the event of a collision. Immediately, that insurer sends a cleanup crew to ensure that victims don’t stand a chance of proving their case. They also send representatives to "negotiate" with victims right away and force them to accept minute settlements - even in the hospital. We have seen cases where the insurance reps arrive before the first responders.

This practice is especially vile because these victims tend to be catastrophically injured, or worse.

The terrible consequences of a truck collision tend to be felt for years to come. If you or a loved one has been hit by a truck, you are not alone - and you do not have to suffer in silence. Call Leventhal & Puga, P.C., at (877) 433-3906 to speak to an experienced Denver vehicle crash attorney and find out how we may help you receive justice.

Types of Truck Collisions

Semi-truck, big rig, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler - these names all describe the large commercial trucks that transverse American roadways every day. Needless to say, when they are involved in collisions with passenger vehicles, the passenger vehicles lose.

General Collisions: Trucks can be involved in the same crashes any other vehicle can be involved in: rear-end, head-on, T-bone, and sideswipe collisions.

Jackknifes: When the cab of a truck stops or slows, but its trailer continues to move forward, cars can be crushed in between. The truck tends to "bend" as the trailer swings out to a 90-degree angle from the cab, folding in like a jackknife.

Rollovers: The size and weight of trucks, not to mention their higher center of gravity, can make them more vulnerable to rollovers. When a truck rolls, many cars can be trapped underneath.

Wide Turns: Trucks require more room to turn than smaller vehicles. When truck drivers are not aware of their surroundings, they can collide with another vehicle or object during a turn.

Underrides: Since the bottom of a truck’s trailer is raised higher than other vehicles, it is possible for cars to collide and go under the trailer, shearing off the top of the passenger compartment. If the trucker applies his brakes suddenly and forces a "simple" rear-end collision, people in the following car are likely to be killed. Thought underride guards are mandatory on trucks in the U.S., they are only placed to the rear of the trailer, and have been found to fail at speeds around 30 mph.

Truck Wrecks Cause Terrible Injuries

We see truly terrible injuries after tractor-trailer crashes in Colorado. The disparity between the size and weight of the commercial truck and the passenger vehicle means that in a collision, the occupants of the passenger vehicle didn’t stand a chance. They often suffer several or all of the following injuries:

Lacerations or avulsions

Internal bleeding

Broken bones

Organ or tissue damage

Traumatic amputation

Spinal cord injuries

Traumatic brain injuries

Emergency medical treatment is often required after a trucking collision, so victims are rarely able to exchange information and take pictures of the scene as they would after a car-car collision. Trucking insurance companies use this to their advantage, and "doctor" the scene if they can.

Who May Be Held Responsible?

Frequent defendants in truck crash cases include:

The Truck Driver: The driver involved in the collision may certainly be at fault. In fact, one study found that truckers tended to be at fault for truck crashes more than 60% of the time. It is important to look at how the driver behaved before and during the crash, because there may be evidence of intoxication or - much more likely - chronic sleep deprivation.

The Trucking Company: The company that hired or allowed the driver to operate its vehicle may be liable for a collision. If the company encouraged reckless behavior like speeding up shipments, did not enforce safety standards, or skipped necessary maintenance on the truck, it may be just as guilty in the eyes of the law.

The Truck’s Manufacturer: If a faulty part caused the crash, the manufacturer of that part can sometimes be held liable. This can be very difficult to prove, which is why you always need an experienced truck collision attorney to represent you and fight on your behalf.

Our experienced truck wreck attorneys at Leventhal & Puga, P.C., have dealt with "big" nationwide trucking companies and their insurers many times before, all across the United States. We are not intimidated or discouraged by their tactics, and have successfully won significant compensation for our clients after a truck accident, allowing them to rebuild and move forward in their lives.

For a no-cost consultation with our team, please call (303) 759-9945 or toll-free (877) 433-3906 today to discuss what happened and see what we can do for your situation.

Denver Auto Accident Law Firm Disclaimer: The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of an attorney–client relationship. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee. Please contact a lawyer for a consultation on your particular legal matter.